Would’ve been better if transparent polls were allowed, says Zardari

–PPP co-chairman says only parliament has right to decide nation’s future, not ‘individuals with three-year terms’

–Says a govt imposed by force does not understand needs and problems of masses

HYDERABAD: Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday that the political situation of the country would’ve been better if transparent elections were ‘allowed’ to be held, adding that parliament alone has the right to decide the future of the nation, not “individuals with three-year terms”.

Addressing a PPP rally in Hyderabad, the party’s co-chairman said that only the parliament has the right to make decisions concerning the nation.

“It would have been better if transparent elections were allowed to be held so that political parties could have formed a government through consensus,” he stated.

“What right does an individual, with just three-year tenure, has to make decisions regarding my nation?” Zardari questioned. “Only the parliament has this right, not anyone else.”

The ex-president went on to say, “How are you related to this? You have no life, you have no future … at least 0.9 million cases are pending in the courts, please address them first.”

“The constitutional position of the people should decide their job description,” he suggested.

The PPP co-chairman termed the PTI government incompetent, asking the rulers to stop mockery of the country and its masses. “Those who promised to build a million houses have instead taken away 5,000 jobs,” he said. “I get angry when someone takes away the rights of the poor … They won’t be able to do it.”

He said a lot could have been done in the first 100 days. “We got rid of Musharraf in 100 days, we got Swat freed in 100 days,” the PPP co-chairman noted, recalling his party’s tenure in the Centre.

“Only a party of the masses can understand their needs and problems, not the parties that are made,” Zardari added.

Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said that it is not necessary for a person to be good at cricket and politics at the same time.

“I am a politician and that’s all I know. Politics is when Musharraf is sent home,” he boasted.

Speaking about the former military dictator, Zardari said, “I don’t want him dead, I want him to live and see that the movement he tried to curb is still active today.”

He demanded of the government to provide opportunities to the local businessmen and facilitate stock exchange, adding, “Only technology and experts should be invited from abroad.”

He criticised the ongoing anti-encroachment drive and added that the PTI government deprived over 0.5 million people of their livelihood in Karachi. He said that the government should provide substitute places to the people before the anti-encroachment operation.

He said the PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto transformed Pakistan into a nuclear power while former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had gifted latest missile technology to the country.

“It is our first priority to provide the masses with drinking water; we need to work today for our future and come up with new ways to generate water resources,” Zardari said and added that the entire province is facing a severe dearth of water.